There were twenty six in attendance. The Beer Nuts welcomed first time attendees Doug, Marie and Chad.

Reports

(none)

Old Business

Dues for 2017 is $20 plus an optional $17.50 for subscription to “Brew Your Own” magazine. Payments may be made either through Square or by cash or check at general meetings. Contact treasurer Dan White for further information.

Member-sponsored competitions: Pat McCusker is sponsoring “Mad McCusker’s Mead Melee” including putting up a prize of one pound of excellent Basswood honey. Turn-in is approximately one year from now. You need aging time so get busy!

Other competitions:SheBrew competition is being advertised through Facebook. More details to follow later.National Homebrew Competition: finals will be at the National Homebrew Convention this summer. But, there is a preliminary round of judging with an earlier turn in date. Registration for the competition is soon. If interested, see the NHC website for registration details and due dates.

Benz Festival 2017 will likely be on the first or second Saturday in May. This year we agreed that setting up two bars with a total of 18 taps would allow for shorter serving lines and keeping beers on tap longer. We want to make a good showing at this again this year. Consider this a call to provide beer for this event.

The membership was encouraged by the cabinet to brew more beer to share at the various competitions and festivals upcoming in 2017.

New Business

First technical meeting will be February 1st. Topic will be New England IPA. Location is pending but will likely be Matt Franklin’s home.

The cabinet agreed that, pending agreement from Lion Bridge Brewing, the Beer Nuts Happy Hour beer pourings will occur on the last Sunday of the month for January through October. Promotion of this event will continue through the Facebook medium. The February happy hour will feature entries to the “Bunged” competition. Please consider providing a growler of your “Bunged” entry and joining us at Lion Bridge Brewing at the end of February.

In recognition of the participation in the 2016 Beer Nuts Happy Hour at Lion Bridge Brewing, four brewers were selected to receive gift cards to Brew It Yourself. The cabinet thanks all that participated in 2016 and welcomes your participation in 2017.

Member Steven Prohaska of the Sausage Foundry is collaborating with Third Base Brewing in production of a special beer to be used in production of sausage and available on tap at various drinking establishments. This beer is to be in the newly recognized Czech Dark Lager style and will be available to celebrate St. Joseph’s Day.

While it’s late notice and quite a distance to travel, Surly Brewing (Minneapolis, MN) is holding a wort rally on Sunday, February 12. Information is available at the AHA website. RSVP is requested.